Amusement device



Aug. 17, 1937. A. vAszlN 2,090,409

AMUSEMENT DEVICE original Filed July 1e, 1934 2 sheets-neet 1 Aug. 17, 1937. A. vAszlN 2,090,409V

, AMUSEMENT DEVICE Original Filed` July 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 17, 1937 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Aurel Vaszin, Dayton, Ohio Substitute for application Serial No. 735,393, `luly 16, 1934. This application August 10, 1936,

Serial No. 95,197

18 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in amusement devices, such as are used in amusement parks for conveyance of sightseers.

It is an object of this invention to provide an electrically driven, automatically steered vehicle for the transportation of passengers, especially children, over an especially prepared trackway provided therefor.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an amusement vehicle having laterally disposed instrumentalities for steering the vehicle by properly acting upon wheels especially prepared for steering purposes.

These and other advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings.

'This application is a substitute for my application Serial No. 735,393, iiled July 16, 1934.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the vehicle.

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective of the front end of the vehicle.

The main parts of the running gear and supporting structure of the vehicle are shown in Figure 2, in which there is a longitudinally disposed frame I supported at one end on a front axle 2 and at'its rear end on a rear axle 3|. At each end of the front axle is a yoke 3, which has pivotally mounted therein a spindle `4 for supporting a wheel 5 on the end of the axle. To each spindle is attached one end of a rearwardly extending arm 6. These arms are connected by means of a link l which extends between the free ends of the arms.

To each axle yoke is attached a yoke 8 by means of a bolt or pin 9 which extends through the yokes 3 and 8 and the spindle 4. The yokes 8 extend forwardlyand each has attached thereto one end of an arm I0. Each arm I0 has intermediate its ends a cuff I I, and adjacent the cuff a roller I2. The free ends of the arms l0 are connected by means of springs I3 to a plate I4 attached to the central part of the front axle by means of bolts lila. These springs serve to hold the arms ID with the rollers I2 thereon in a definite, correlated position between the two front wheels so that the rollers I 2 are out of contact with the wheels and spaced therefrom.

Extending laterally from each side of the frame, at the front end thereof, is one arm I5 of a bellcrank lever pivoted by means of a pivot pin i6 to the corner of the front end of the frame. Each bellcrank lever has a second arm I'I which projects rearwardly and has on its free end spaced sleeves I8. Between the sleeves I8 of each arm I'l is a cu I9, to which one end of a link 2t is attached. The other end of each link is attached to one of the cuffs II. The cuff II on the righthand side of the vehicle is attached to the cuff I9 on the lefthand side of the vehicle, while the cuff ll on the lefthand side of the vehicle is attached to the cuff I9 on the righthand side of the vehicle.

For the purpose of bracing the two arms of each bellcrank lever there is provided a brace member 2l. The pivot pins I6 are 4connected by means of a bar 22. This bar serves to brace the ends of these pins. Adjacent each pivot pin and to the rear of the bar 22 is a stop post 23, which has therein an adjustable screw or bolt 24 for engagement by the arm Il to limit the swinging movements of the arms I5 and also to limit the outward swinging movements of the arms I0 and the rollers I2 thereon. These stop posts and the adjustable screws thereon prevent the rollers from engaging the wheels during a straight and forward movement of the vehicle. Y

On the free end of each arm I5 is a yoke 25 which has mounted thereon a roller 26 adapted to engage the side walls of the trackway over which the vehicle passes. The frontend of the frame is provided with brackets 2l for supporting a front bumper or bumpers 28. Extending across the frame and laterally thereof is a cross bar 29, which has on each end a roller 30. These rollers are in alignment with the'rollers 26 on the ends of the arms I5, and are adapted to engage the side walls of the trackway to guide the vehicle and keep it in its proper course. While this cross bar is shown in front of the rear wheels it l may be located to the rear of said wheels.

O-n the rear axle 3i are the usual wheelsv 32. 'Ihese are the traction Wheels and are caused to rotate by means of a motor 33, a motor shaft 34 and a sprocket chain 35 connecting sprockets on the motor shaft to the rear axle. The vehicle is also supplied with a rear bumper 36 attached to and supported by the frame of the vehicle. 'Ihe numeral 3l is used to designate a diagrammatic illustration of the side walls of the trackway.

The trackway may be straight or curved. When a curve in the trackway is reached one of the rollers 26 will be engaged by the wall thereof so that the arm I5 supporting the roller will be moved so that one of the rollers I2 will engage with the side of one of the wheels 5, thereby turning the wheel so that the direction of movement of the vehicle is changed.

The steering instrumentality being located on the front end of the vehicle will cause the wheels to be operated to change the course of the vehicle before the main body of the car reaches the curve. That is, when the front wheels are entering the-curved Zone they are turned to steer 5 the car so it will pass around the curve. As soon as the Wheels are turned the pressure on the roller on the side of the trackway is relieved.

The roller on one side of the vehicle tends to steer the vehicle in one direction, while the roller yl on the other side steers the vehicle in the reverse direction. When the trackway is straight the `arms I are brought into extended positions by the operation of the springs I3 so that the rollers I2 are in a neutral, non-steering position so that l5 the wheels can operate freely for the movement of the vehicle along the trackway. Through the operationrof the springs I3 the steering mechanism offers no impediment to the rotation of the front wheels and their free movement, except on curves. The operation of the steering mechanism is automatic in all respects. It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modications as come Within the scope of my claims and my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, in an amusement vehicle, a

frame, a pair of wheels supporting the frame at one end, and means engageable with said Wheels and having a portion projecting laterally of the frame to engage a guide, the engagement of said means with saidwheels being arranged to steer said wheels away from said guide upon engagement of the projecting portion with said guide.

2. In combination, in an amusement Vehicle, a frame, a pair of wheels supporting the frame at one end, and means supported independently of the wheels but engageable therewith and having a portion extending laterally of the frame to engage a guide, the engagement of said means with said Wheels being arranged to steer said Wheels away from said guide upon engagement of said laterally extending portion with said guide.

3. In combination, in an amusement vehicle, a frame having an axle thereon, a spindle pivotally mounted on each end of the axle, a wheel on each spindle, and means on the frame to engage the wheels to steer the vehicle.

4. In combination, in an amusement vehicle, a frame having an axle thereon, a spindle pivotally mounted on each end of the axle, a wheel on each spindle, and means on the frame and extending laterally thereof to engage the wheels to steer the vehicle. Y

5. In combination, in an amusement vehicle, a frame having an axle thereon, a spindle pivoted to each end of the axle, each spindle having an arm, alink connecting the arms, a wheel on each spindle, and means on the frame adapted to alternately engage the wheels to steer the vehicle.

6. In combination, in an amusement vehicle, a frame having an axle thereon, a spindle pivoted to each end of the axle, each spindle having an arm, a link connecting the arms, a 'wheel on each spindle, and means on the Yframe and extending laterally thereof adapted to alternately engage the wheels to steer the vehicle.

7. In combination, in an amusement vehicle, a frame having an axle thereon, a spindle pivoted to each end of the axle, a wheel on eachV spindle, means to connect the spindles so they will turn together on their pivots, an arm pivotally supported to swing with relation to the frame, and

means on the arm to engage a wheel to steer the Vehicle.

8. In combination, in an amusement vehicle,

i together on their pivots, a pair of arms, each arm being pivoted to swing with relation to the frame, and a roller on each arm to engage a Wheel to steer the vehicle.

l0. In combination, in an amusement vehicle, a frame having an axle thereon, a spindle pivoted to each end of the axle, a wheel on each spindle, means to connect the spindles so they will turn together on their pivots, a pair of arms, each arm being pivoted to swing with relation to the frame and having thereon a roller to engage a wheel to steer the vehicle, and means extending laterally of the frame toactuate the arms to bring the rollers against the wheels to steer the vehicle.

l1. In combination, .in an amusement vehicle,

` a frame having an axle thereon, a spindle pivoted to each end of the axle, a wheel on each spindle, means to connect the spindles so they will turn together on their pivots, a pair of arms, each armbeing pivoted to swing with relation to the frame and having thereon a roller to engage a wheel to steer the vehicle, and means extending' laterally of the frame to actuate the arms to bring the rollers against the wheels to steer the vehicle, said means comprising a pair of levers, each lever being operatively connected to one of the arms.

12. In combination with a trackway having side walls and a vehicle adapted to travel in the trackway, a frame for the vehicle, a pair of spindles pivoted tothe frame, a Wheel on each spindle, an arm pivotally supported adjacent each wheel, a roller on each arm to engage a wheel, and means on the frame adapted to be engaged by the side walls to move the arms to bring the rollers against the wheel, whereby thevehicle iS steered.

13. Inv combination with a vehicle and a track-y 'way therefor having side walls, a frame having an axle thereon, a spindlefor each end of the axle pivoted thereto, a wheel on each spindle, an

arm pivoted to the axle adjacent each wheel, a

roller on each arm for engagement with the adjacent wheel, `a lever at each side of the frame pivoted thereto, a roller on one end of each lever for engagement with a side wall, and means connecting the levers to the arms so that when the roller on one of the levers engages a side wall'a` roller on an arm will bev brought into engagement with a wheel to steer the vehicle away from the engaged wall.

14. In combination with a'vehicle and a. trackway therefor havingside walls, a frame having an axle thereon, a spindle for-each end of the axle pivoted thereto, a wheel on each spindle, an arm pivoted to the axle adjacent each wheel, a roller on each arm for engagement with the adjacent wheel, means acting on the arm to hold the rollers away from the wheels, a lever at each side of the frame pivoted thereto, a roller on one end of each lever for engagement with a side wall, and means connecting the-levers to the arms so that when the roller on one of the levers engages a side Wall a roller on an arm will be brought into engagement with a wheel to steer the Vehicle away from the engaged wall.

15. In combination with a vehicle and a track- Way therefor having side walls, a frame having an axle thereon, a spindle for each end of the axle pivoted thereto, a Wheel on each spindle, an arm pivoted to the axle adjacent each wheel, a roller on each arm for engagement with the adjacent wheel, a laterally extending lever on each side of the frame, a roller on one end of each lever for engagement with a side wall, means connecting the levers to the arms so that when the roller on one of the levers engages a side wall a roller on an arm will be brought into engagement with a Wheel to steer the vehicle away from the engaged Wall, and means acting on the arms to hold the levers in laterally extending positions.

16. In combination with a vehicle and a trackway therefor having side walls, a frame having an axle thereon, a, spindle for each end of the axle pivoted thereto, a wheel on each spindle, an arm pivoted to the axle adjacent each wheel, a roller on each arm for engagement with the adjacent wheel, a laterally extending lever on each side of the frame, a roller on one end of each lever for engagement with a side wall,

means connecting the levers to the arms so that when the roller on one of the levers engages a side wall a roller on an arm will be brought into engagement with a wheel to steer the vehicle away from the engaged wall, and means acting on the arms tohold the levers in laterally extending positions, said means consisting of springs attached to the arms and to the axle.

17. In an amusement vehicle, a frame, a pair of wheels mounted on the frame to swing for steering purposes, an arm for each wheel pivotally supported at one end by the frame and having a roller to engage the wheel to steer the Veing a roller to engage the wheel to steer the vehicle, and means on the frame to operate the arms to steer the vehicle, said means comprising a pair of laterally extending levers pivotally supported by the frame, each lever being connected at one end to an arm and having on its other end a roller to engage part of a trackway.

AUREL VASZIN. 

